Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that are essential in mediating the body's natural and adaptive immune responses. The body can regulate the function of DCs in various ways to enhance their antitumor effects. In the tumour microenvironment (TME), antigen-specific T cell responses are initiated through DC processing and delivery of tumour-associated antigens (TAAs); conversely, tumour cells inhibit DC recruitment by releasing metabolites, cytokines and other regulatory TME and function. Different subpopulations of DCs exist in tumour tissues, and their functions vary. Insight into DC subgroups in TME allows assessment of the effectiveness of tumour immunotherapy. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is the main component of the Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus. The study found that the antitumor effects of APS are closely related to DCs. APS can promote the expression of surface molecules CD80 and CD86, promote the maturation of DCs, and activate CTL to exert antitumor effects. We reviewed the application of DCs in tumor immunotherapy and the mechanism of modulation of DCs by Astragalus polysaccharide to provide new directions and strategies for tumor therapy and new drug development.

树突状细胞 (DC) 是有效的抗原呈递细胞 (APC)，在介导身体的自然和适应性免疫反应中必不可少。机体可以通过多种方式调节DCs的功能以增强其抗肿瘤作用。在肿瘤微环境 (TME) 中，抗原特异性 T 细胞反应通过 DC 加工和肿瘤相关抗原 (TAA) 的传递而启动；相反，肿瘤细胞通过释放代谢物、细胞因子和其他调节性 TME 和功能来抑制 DC 募集。肿瘤组织中存在不同的DC亚群，其功能也各不相同。深入了解 TME 中的 DC 亚组可以评估肿瘤免疫治疗的有效性。黄芪多糖（APS）是中草药黄芪的主要成分。研究发现APS的抗肿瘤作用与DCs密切相关。APS可促进表面分子CD80和CD86的表达，促进DCs成熟，激活CTL发挥抗肿瘤作用。综述了DCs在肿瘤免疫治疗中的应用以及黄芪多糖对DCs的调控机制，为肿瘤治疗和新药开发提供了新的方向和策略。